Aces Beat Braves 3-1

Two solo home runs carry Aces

ALEXANDRIA – by Lukas Favale – The Alexandria Aces bats have yet to come to life since the mini-break for the Fourth of July, but Jamie Treml made sure that the little amount of offense the Aces got Saturday afternoon was enough. Treml gave up just 1 run over 6 strong innings, to help the Aces beat the Herndon Braves 3-1, their second win over the Braves in just over a week.

The Aces did get some power out of their lineup, to allow Treml to pick up the win. In the bottom of the 4th, already with a 1-0 lead, Jake Straub connected on a solo home run over the scoreboard in left to give the Aces a 2-0 lead. That was the only blemish by Braves starter Michael Costello after the 2nd inning.

Costello was lifted to start the 8th and Alex Buccilli greeted reliever Mike Wood with a long home run down the right field line, hooking just around the foul pole. That gave the Aces a 3-1 lead, which held on to become the final. That was the second straight game a home run hooked around a foul pole. On Friday night in Vienna, the River Dogs had a similar home run down the left field line. The Aces scored the first run of the ball game in the 2nd inning. Jacob Stockton started the inning with a ground rule double in deep right center field. The ball bounced on the warning track and hopped over the fence. Jake Straub followed with a deep ground ball to short stop Jourdan Weiks, who made a backhand play but threw the ball away to first. Straub reached on the infield single, and Stockton scored on the error for a 1-0 lead.

Treml made that lead stand, before Straub made it 2-0 in the 4th. Then in 5th, working on a no-hitter, Treml gave up a leadoff double to Wes Walker on a ground ball down over the third base bag and down the left field line. A few batters later, Kyle Toomey knocked in Walker with an RBI single to make it 2-1.

Treml would work a scoreless 6th inning before giving way to the Aces bullpen. Following Treml, AJ Rosenthal, Shelby Dixon, and Steven Schuler each worked scoreless innings to help preserve the win for Treml. Schuler worked a perfect 9th inning to pick up his third save of the season.

The Aces had a chance to open up a lead in the 1st inning. After two quick strikeouts by Costello, Alex Buccilli walked, Chris Sweeney singed and Kevin Francke walked to load the bases. Craig Sweeney grounded out to second to end the first inning rally, stranding three of the six base runners they would strand throughout the game.

With the win the Aces move to 13-13 on the season. They play again Sunday afternoon against the Southern Maryland Nationals at 1:30 from Frank Mann Field. Coverage can be heard on the Aces Radio Network here.